Back in August, former NFL quarterback and star at University of Oregon, Joey Harrington, was riding his bike on SE Foster Road when someone driving a car struck him from behind. It was the hardest hit of Harrington’s life. Now his charitable foundation wants to channel the attention from that collision into an annual ride that raises money for “childrens’ bicycle safety.”
Here’s more from the Harrington Family Foundation website:
“Last summer Joey was hit by a car while riding his bike on the streets of Portland. The foundation would like to channel the attention from this accident to educate our community to the hazards associated with bicycle travel with the aim of reducing and preventing injuries to children.”
The Bridges to Breakers – Helmet for Kids Century Bike Ride century will take place on September 30th 23rd. The route will go from a McMenamins pub in northwest Portland to a McMenamins pub in the coastal town of Gearhart for a total of 100 miles (with fully stocked rest stops ever 20 miles along the way). Entry fee is $100, with an option for riders to raise another $125. Funds raised through the ride will be used to purchase helmets, which will then be given to local non-profits for use in youth bike safety programs.
Riders can pick from one of four organizations to donate their entry fees to. The list of orgs includes: the Harrington Family Foundation, Children’s Cancer Association (CCA), OHSU Sports Medicine Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA).
The focus on helmets likely comes from the fact that Harrington credits his for his life — or at least his life without a serious brain injury. According to a story in The Oregonian published after the collision, an OHSU trauma surgeon said without a helmet, Harrington would have suffered “severe head injuries.”
Registration hasn’t opened yet, but you can learn more at the Harrington Family Foundation website (the official event website will launch by mid-March).